Credits

Filmmaker:
Arthur enjoyed “playing around with film and photography,” often shooting trick shots and animating objects and titles for his film. He built a darkroom in the cellar and would often experiment with double exposures and overlays. He also inadvertently became a historical filmmaker as he documented his time working in Atlantic City during the 30’s – 70’s and the many trips the family would take to New York City, Philadelphia, and other areas along the eastern seaboard. He built a frame to hold his Super 8 camera and would shoot miles of the highway as he drove. 

Shotlist

Clip Description:
This clip (9146) opens with Christmas in 1965, with kids Virginia, Vance and Arthur Jr. descending the stairs into the living room. At 00:24, Daughter Virginia stands next to coffee table with wrapped and unwrapped gifts and Christmas tree behind it. One unwrapped gift reads, “Easy Bake Oven” on the side of the box. A son begins to open a box labeled “Pistol and Target Range”. Daughter Virginia hugs her mother. Daughter Virginia sits on floor in front of Christmas tree amongst unwrapped gifts. At around 01:33, son looks inside box on floor, a box labeled “Pinball” sits on chair in background. At approx. 01:53 son pulls from box a telescope (?). At about 02:07 sons Arthur Jr. and Vance look at pinball game (?). Camera pans to daughter Virginnia and another shot of the “Easy Bake Oven” box that is more clear. Shot of at on chair follows. At approx. 02:56 visitors arrive and more kids open gifts. At about 03:46 daughter Virginia sits with a doll in her lab behind a box with an illustration of the doll and label that reads, “Talking Tatters”. Younger girl next to her pulls the string from the dolls back. At about 04:06, two men begin to set up a film projection screen. Kids tear around with scattered gifts and torn wrapping paper across the living room floor. At 04:22, daughter, Virginia, pumps spinning top toy, then watches it spin. Boy in red outfits runs toward camera. At 04:38 guy plays toy pinball machine now assembled on table top. Someone out of frame holds an orange plastic item in front of camera. Label toward bottom of piece reads “Electronic Target” (maybe a radio or speaker?). Around 04:43 a child on floor plays with another type of spinning top while two ladies sit at a kitchen table. 05:31 shots of Christmas tree and tree top. 05:36, kid in sailor suit stands in front of 4-wheel trike. Boy waves to camera. At 05:52 daughter, Virginia sits in front of xylophone that’s still in its box. Shots of boy in sailor suit and daughter, Virginia, dancing with life size fabric doll follow. At 07:31 title card reads “The End”. At 07:41 a holiday illustration of carolers of yesteryear with the year reading, 1964 is displayed. Another Christmas where kids descend the staircase into the living room. Shots of Christmas tree and gifts follow. Around 08:35 daughter Virginia plays with toy pitchers, some sort of Mickey Mouse board sits on an easel and a box labeled “Shooting Gallery” is behind her. At 08:56 son opens gift. Boxes of gifts sit on sofa behind him. One box reads, “Rock Em’ Sock Em’ Robots” and includes an illustration of kids playing the game. Son unwrapped a box that reads “Rodeo”. Another son unwraps box that reads “Flip the Basket” and another with a box labeled, “Air Blaster with action target”. At around 10:05 another shot of “Rock Em’ Sock Em Robot” box then continues backwards to 1961. At approx. 10:47 a target illustration of an Ape with a gaping mouth gets an air blast from the air blaster toy. Camera pans to son with air blaster. At about 11:29 sons Arthur Jr. and Vance put together “Rock Em’ Sock Em’ Robot” toy. At 11:43 they’re playing the game on the living room floor. At 12:16 a visiting family arrives. Woman in pink 1960s suit smiles and little girl in red velvet dress waves to camera. 12:34 “The End” title card and is followed by a stop motion animation title card that spells out “Merry Christmas 1963” with the numbers spinning. Sons stand in front of Christmas tree while wife, Virginia sits on sofa. Around 13:53 Arthur Jr. opens “Red Demon” gift which looks to be a toy jeep or hotrod. At 14:07 Arthur Jr. tries on a fedora. At 14:24 son Vance holds up an “Etch A Sketch” toy. At approx. 14:53 daughter Virgnia and brother walk down the stairs into the living room. She covers shields her eyes from the brightness of the camera’s lighting attachment. Children’s toys are spread across the living room. At around 16:56 Arthur Jr. pulls a small toy poodle across the carpet. At 17:33 brunette haired little girl pulls another toy dog across the carpet. 18:51 Close shot of daughter, Virginia on floor playing with toys. 19:58 little girls in dress waves to camera (Arthur’s niece?). Around 20:06 shots of toy train set in action. 20:30, “The End” title card. Pan across the living room reveals an many opened toys. Shot of sons opening boxes. One reads, “Think A Tron”. Anther son tries on a new pair of loafers. At 21:57 daughter Virginia descends the stairs with her brother. At 22:54 woman descends stairs with toddler in her arms. Little girls pushes doll buggy. At 23:33 a blow-up “Humpty Dumpty” sits in background. Pan across living room with families, kids and toys all around. “Merry Christmas” sign hangs in doorway between living and dinning room. At about 25:22 wife, Virginia checks on dish in oven. At 25:35 everyone sits at dinner table for their meal. 25:57 people raise glasses in a toast. At about 26:14 kids are outside on sidewalk walking with toy rifle and riding bicycle with training wheels. Around 26:33 woman is outside hanging items on clothes line. Long shot of sidewalk and tree lined streets. Appears to be fall like weather. Daughter Virginia rides bike toward camera. Car backs out of garage. Man gets out of automobile, waves at camera. About 27:37 back inside house with shots of train set in motion. At approx. 28:44, sons walk down stairs in their plaid house robes into living room with stacks of toys. At 28:55 toy box label reads, “Skelatura” model kit. Another box label, “Three Keys to Treasure”, another box label, “Flintstones” (but hard to read). At 29:26 son plays with looks like a toy radio or CB. 29:38 more family members descend the stairs in robes and nightgowns. Close-up on baby girl (Arthur’s niece, perhaps). At 30:00 wife, Virginia in leopard robe and daughter, Virginia descend the stairs. 30:58 babies on floor next to toy car. At 31:21, boy plays with remote control helicopter on dining room table. 31:55 elaborate train set again.